Remote Control of the Red Cargo Train Conveyor Belt using Lego Power Functions.

About this creation

This is the second version of a remotely controlled motorized conveyor Belt that came with the Lego Red Cargo Train (Lego 3677).

In the previous first version hopper size was expanded but its original shape was kept when it was redesigned to hold and dispense M&M candies instead of grey cylinder Lego bricks. In this second version, the shape of the hopper was redesigned and the hopper opening to the conveyor belt were increase in size so that the M&Ms would flow more freely. In the first version, the hopper had two windows in the front and the back to see how much was in the hopper. In the second version, the hopper is almost totally made of clear/transparent windows - and giving one a better idea could see how much M&M candies is still available. The first version had an infrequent but annoying problem where the chain link belt would break/fall off the 40 teeth gear driving a smaller teeth gear. The second version fixes this minor problem by altering the motor's gear ratio closer to 1:1 - reducing the torque levels on the chain link belt - which in turn has helped keep the chain belt on.

The first version used the Lego Power Function variable speed remote controller, IR receiver, AAA battery box, and motor to motorize the conveyor belt. The second version adds 2 LED lights which go on whenever the conveyor belt goes on.

I swap the Red Cargo Train's Hopper's yellow tower legs out and instead built my own tower platform out of black brick.